Adjustable casing for lamp-sockets.



SOGKETS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1910.

m M, 7% f m MW v7 0 a w. a w H m P 25 UNITED STATES EDGAR H. FREEMAN, 0E TBENTONiTNEW JEifSfiiYQ ADJUSTABLE CASING .FOR LAMP-SOCKETS. 1

Specification of Letters Patent. P; qtenf ed ct, 1910,

Application filed July 28, 1910. Serial No. 574,381.

T 0 all whom "it may concern.

Be itknown that I, EDGAR H. FREEHsX, a citizen of the United 'States, residing at Trenton. in,the county of Mercer and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new justable type wnerein'a plurality of locking positions are provided between the shell and cap parts of the casing so as to enable the casing shell to not only be readily and securely united to the cap after the latter has been fitted in place,'but also to permit the shell to be so positioned when locked to the cap as to present theswitch-key (of a keysocket') .in a readily accessible and convenient position for manipulation". I

To this end the present invention contemplates a simple and reliable fastening connection between the shell and cap parts of the lamp socket casing, which .admits of practically a universal circular adjustment for-the shell so that the same maybe locked bv the same locking means in any of a number of dili'erent positions, while at the same time preserving all of the desirable features of that type of lamp socket'casings having what is termed in the trade a snap fastening.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fastening connection between the shell and the cap parts of a casing which dispenses with the necessity of a locking hole or its equivalent to secure the locked parts against-rotation in either direction, and against separation, .thusgreatly simplifying a fastening of this character -while at the same time retaining the maximum strength of the casing.

With these and other objects in view, which will be readily apparent to those familiar with the art'as the nature of-the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodimentof the invention is shown in the drawings, in

which- 'Figure 1 is aperspective view of an adjustable casing for lamp sockets embodying the present invention, the View illustrating the two meinbers of thecasing separated.

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewillustrating the first positions, relatively, of the two members of the casing when about tobe brought.

together andfastened. Fig.3 is a'-'similar view showing the second position of the two members of the casing when telescoped, and prior to the locking action. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the't-hird position of the two members of-the casing when brought together. that is,.when a relative rotation thereof is etl'ected to brin'g one ofthe'locking lugs atone side of and against the looking abutment formed by an edge of the 101igitudinal resilience-slot *opening through one end of the-shell part of the casing. Fig.

5 is a cross-sectional' view, through the locked members, on the line 55 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the invention applied'to a casing adapted for the keyless type of electrical lamp socket.

Like references indicate corresponding parts in allthe' figures of'thedrawings.

The improved fastening t'o'rmingthe subject-matter of this application is adaptable toany approved "typeof two-part casing for electrical lamp sockets, for illustrative purposes the invention is shown in' the drawings asembodied iii a metallic lamp socket casing co11 .--isting" ht' a nretal-l'ic shell or body part 1 audit czip part-2, the latter being provided with a peripheral flange 3 which telescopically receives'one. end portion of the shell 1.

According to the present end edge-of the cylindrical me llic shell 1 which telescopically fits within the flange 3 of the cap '2 has formed therein a plurality of regularly spaced bayonet positioning slots .4. the entrance openings 5 to which slots open through one end edge of the metallic invention the positioning slots the shell 1 has formed in the end which engages the cap a longitudinally disposed resilience slot 6, which 'opens through the same end edge of the shell as the entraiicco'penings 5 to the bayonet slots. In casings adapted to contain the ke vt vpe of lamp sockets the slot- 6 is of the usual size and form to act as the keyv slot to accommodate thokey-shaft of the socket, but in the lieyless type of lamp socketthe slot- (3- in the shell. of the casing need only be of a sufiicient size and extent to provide sufiicient resiliency 't'or the-slotted end of the shell for the locking action, and for the release of the parts, as hereinafter more fully explained.-

One of the important features of the present invention is to rovide an edge portion of the casing she I, contiguous to the slot .6, with an inturned orinwardly bent yielding guiding lip 7. This guiding lip 7 is preferably located at one of the upper corners of the resilience slot 6 and acts as a guide for the lug 8 acting as the locking lug which is ada ted to snap into engagement at one side 0 and against the lockingabutment 9 formed by an edge of the said resilience-slot 6. v

The flange 3 oft-he cap'2- of the casing is provided upon its inner-side witha series of the locking lugs 8. These lugs preferably consist of rivets or their equivalents fitted to the cap flange 3 and project inwardly.

The said lugs are all of the same size and.

shape,'and are spaced at equidistantfpoints, and, furthermore, are of such a form as to .present abrupt shoulders on opposite sides so that when one of the lugs is engaged against the abutment 9 the other lugs are i engaged against the closed ends of the slots with the result of absolutely locking the shell and cap against relative rotation in either direction, while at the same time the the open parts of the bayonet slots. Then by rotating the shell as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, three of the lugs pass into the closed ends of the bayonet slots, an the fourth lug snaps into locking-engagement with the abutment 9, asshown inFig. l of the drawings. To separate the parts the edge portion of the shell carrying the lip.

7 is pressed inwardly by manual compression to clear such edge from the h1g8 cooperating therewith, whereupon a reversal of the movements described permits the shell to be readily disengaged from all of the lugs and withdrawn from the cap.

What I claim is,

1. An adjustable lamp socket casing con1-- prising a cap provided with. a plurality of equidistant lugs having locking shoulders, and a shell provided with a plurality of ;positioning slots and a resilience slot opening through one end thereof, said shell presenting a locking abutment at one edge of the resilience slot and contiguous to the latter being provided with an inturned guiding lip engaged by one ofsaid lugs as the.

other lugs enter the positioning slots. v

2. An adjustable lamp socket casing comprising a cap provided with aiplurality of equidistant lugs having locking shoulders,

'and a compressible shell provided with a plurality of bayonet positioning slots, and with a resilience slot opening through one end thereof, said shell presenting a locking abutment formed by an edge of the resilience slot and contiguous ,to the latter being provided with a guiding lip engaged by one of said lugs simultaneously with the entering of the. other lugs into the positioning slot.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. EDGAR FREEMAN.

Witnesses MARY S. Gnarls, JOHN B. RUPPRECHT. 

